Planned protests in Burlington and Oakville call for elimination of LGBTQ+ teachings

A nationally organized protest calling for the elimination of LGBTQ+ education in schools will have a staging ground in Burlington and Oakville on Wednesday (Sept. 20).

Billed as the 1 Million March 4 Children, organizers in Burlington plan to walk along Guelph Line to the Halton District School Board. In Oakville, protestors say they will meet up in front of the Town Hall.

It is not known how many participants are expected but students have been encouraged to take the day off from school and attend.

Stating the march is intended to protect children from LGBTQ+ indoctrination and sexualization in the classroom, organizers say they are “advocating for the elimination of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) curriculum, pronouns, gender ideology and mixed bathrooms in schools.”

Organizers have called for similar protests in towns and cities across Canada on Wednesday.

The Canadian Anti-Hate Network has condemned the protest saying participants are being fueled by far-right organizations and anti-public education activists, among others. They are encouraging local activists to stage counter-demonstrations.

The Anti-Hate Network also points out these types of protests have been poorly attended in the past, especially when held in suburban settings.

Locally, the Halton District School Board was at the centre of controversy earlier this year when it allowed a provocatively dressed transgender teacher to continue to work in the classroom despite the objections of parent groups and some senior government officials.